Commodity registration supporting device and computer program

ABSTRACT

A commodity registration supporting device according to an embodiment includes a receiver, an acquiring section, a first detecting section, an adding section, and an output section. The receiver receives an electromagnetic wave transmitted from a first transmitter provided in a display place where a commodity is displayed. The acquiring section acquires, from the electromagnetic wave received by the receiver, identification information of the commodity displayed in the display place where the first transmitter that transmits the electromagnetic wave is provided. The first detecting section detects a first act of a purchaser taking out the commodity from the display place and storing the commodity in a storage body. The adding section adds, if first act is detected by the first detecting section, the commodity identified by the identification information acquired by the acquiring section to a list. The output section outputs the list.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2018-120084, filed in Jun. 25, 2018, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a commodityregistration supporting device and a computer program.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, a commodity registration supporting system has beendeveloped that supports, using a cart terminal, sales registration ofcommodities purchased by a customer. The cart terminal includes abarcode reader or a wireless tag reader and is attached to a shoppingcart. The shopping cart is hereinafter referred to as cart. When puttinga commodity in the cart, the customer causes the barcode reader or thewireless tag reader to read data of a barcode or a wireless tag attachedto the commodity. Consequently, a list of commodities stored in the cartis created. Identification information for identifying the cart terminalor the customer is associated with the list. The list may be created bythe cart terminal or may be created by a server connected to the cartterminal by wireless communication.

In accounting in a Point of Sale (POS) terminal, the customer inputs theidentification information of the cart terminal or the customer to thePOS terminal. Consequently, in the POS terminal, sales registrationprocessing of the commodities is executed based on information describedin the list associated with the identification information.

The commodity registration supporting system using the cart terminal inthe past is based on the premise that a barcode or a wireless tag isattached to each one of commodities. If barcodes or wireless tags arenot attached to commodities, a purchaser has to select a commodity to bepurchased from a commodity list displayed on a touch panel of the cartterminal. Therefore, a burden on the customer increases. However, forexample, if a wireless tag is attached to each one of commodities,expenses related to wireless tags are enormous.

Related art is described in, for example, JP-A-2011-203058.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part circuit configurationof a commodity registration supporting device in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an attachment example ofshelf label tags;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an attachment example of apurchase tag and a commodity return tag;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which apurchaser wears a commodity registration supporting device of awristwatch type;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main memory area of thecommodity registration supporting device;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a main part procedure of informationprocessing executed by a processor according to a commodity registrationsupporting program in the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the main part procedure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the main part procedure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the main part procedure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the main part procedure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the main part procedure;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a main part circuitconfiguration of a commodity registration supporting device in a secondembodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an attachment example of acart tag;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of purchasedcommodity data stored in a purchased commodity memory in the secondembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a main part procedure of informationprocessing executed by a processor according to a commodity registrationsupporting program in the second embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the main part procedure; and

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the main part procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein related to providing a commodityregistration supporting device and a computer program that canefficiently support commodity registration by a purchaser at low cost.

A commodity registration supporting device according to an embodimentincludes a receiver, an acquiring section, a first detecting section, anadding section, and an output section. The receiver receives anelectromagnetic wave transmitted from a first transmitter provided in adisplay place where a commodity is displayed. The acquiring sectionacquires, from the electromagnetic wave received by the receiver,identification information of the commodity displayed in the displayplace where the first transmitter that transmits the electromagneticwave is provided. The first detecting section detects a first act of apurchaser taking out the commodity from the display place and storingthe commodity in a storage body. The adding section adds, if first actis detected by the first detecting section, the commodity identified bythe identification information acquired by the acquiring section to alist. The output section outputs the list.

Commodity registration supporting devices in embodiments that canefficiently support commodity registration by a purchaser at low costare explained with reference to the drawings. The embodiments areapplied to a store adopting an accounting system in which a purchaserpicks up commodities that the purchaser is about to purchase out ofcommodities displayed in a commodity shelf and stores the commodities ina storage body such as a cart or a shopping basket and, when endingshopping, moves to an accounting place where a POS terminal is set andpays a price of the purchased commodities.

First Embodiment

First, a first embodiment is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a main part circuit configurationof a commodity registration supporting device 10 in the firstembodiment. The commodity registration supporting device 10 is awearable computer that a purchaser can wear and carry. Specifically, thecommodity registration supporting device 10 is formed in a wristwatchshape and is attached to a wrist of the purchaser.

The commodity registration supporting device 10 includes a processor 11,a main memory 12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a wireless unit 14, adisplay 15, a light emitting diode (LED) circuit 16, a wireless tagreader 17, and a system transmission line 18. The system transmissionline 18 includes an address bus, a data bus, and a control signal line.In the commodity registration supporting device 10, the processor 11,the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13, the wireless unit14, the display 15, the LED circuit 16, and the wireless tag reader 17are connected to the system transmission line 18. In the commodityregistration supporting device 10, a computer is configured by theprocessor 11, the main memory 12, and the auxiliary storage device 13,and the system transmission line 18 that connects the processor 11, themain memory 12, and the auxiliary storage device 13.

The processor 11 is equivalent to a central part of the computer. Theprocessor 11 controls the sections according to an operating system orapplication programs in order to realize various functions of thecommodity registration supporting device 10. The processor 11 is, forexample, a central processing unit (CPU).

The main memory 12 is equivalent to a main storage portion of thecomputer. The main memory 12 includes a nonvolatile memory region and avolatile memory region. The main memory 12 stores the operating systemor the application programs in the nonvolatile memory region. The mainmemory 12 sometimes stores, in the nonvolatile or volatile memoryregion, data necessary for the processor 11 in executing processing forcontrolling the sections. The main memory 12 uses the volatile memoryregion as a work area where data is rewritten as appropriate by theprocessor 11. The nonvolatile memory region is, for example, a read onlymemory (ROM). The volatile memory region is, for example, a randomaccess memory (RAM).

The auxiliary storage device 13 is equivalent to an auxiliary storageportion of the computer. For example, an electric erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid statedrive (SSD) can be the auxiliary storage device 13. The auxiliarystorage device 13 saves data used by the processor 11 in performingvarious kinds of processing, data created by the processing in theprocessor 11, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 13 sometimesstores the application programs described above.

The wireless unit 14 performs data communication with a POS terminal 20through a wireless local area network (LAN) that adopts a standard suchas Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The POS terminal 20 is usually set inan accounting place of a store. A store clerk in charge of accounting,so-called cashier, operates the POS terminal 20, performs salesregistration of commodities purchased by a customer, and furtherperforms accounting processing to settle a transaction with thecustomer. The wireless unit 14 may directly perform the datacommunication with the POS terminal 20. The wireless unit 14 may performthe data communication with the POS terminal 20 via a base station. Thewireless unit 14 may perform the data communication with the POSterminal 20 via a server connected to the base station. The wirelessunit 14 may perform wireless communication with an electronic apparatusother than the POS terminal 20.

The display 15 is a display device of the commodity registrationsupporting device 10. The display 15 is capable of displaying commoditynames, prices, and the like. As the display 15, a liquid crystaldisplay, an organic electro luminescence (EL) display, or the like isused. The display 15 may have a touch panel function.

The LED circuit 16 controls lighting and extinction of a first LED 161and a second LED 162. The first LED 161 and the second LED 162 havedifferent light emission colors. The light emission colors are notparticularly limited. For example, the first LED 161 may be a red LEDand the second LED 162 may be a yellow LED. An LED of another color maybe used as the first LED 161 or the second LED 162. The number of LEDscontrolled by the LED circuit 16 are not limited to two. The LED circuit16 may control lighting and extinction of only one LED or three or moreLEDs.

The wireless tag reader 17 reads data of an integrated circuit (IC)memory included in a wireless tag 30 through noncontact wirelesscommunication between the wireless tag reader 17 and the wireless tag30. The wireless tag reader 17 includes an antenna. If the antennaapproaches approximately 20 cm from an antenna of the wireless tag 30,the wireless tag reader 17 reads data of the wireless tag 30 with anelectromagnetic induction system.

The wireless tag 30 is a type of a transmitter that transmits anelectromagnetic wave. The wireless tag 30 is referred to as radiofrequency identification (ID), electronic tag, IC tag, and the like aswell. In this embodiment, a peculiar name is attached to the wirelesstag 30 according to a use. That is, in this embodiment, a store entrytag 31, a POS tag 32, a shelf label tag 33, a purchase tag 34, and acommodity return tag 35 are used.

The store entry tag 31 is provided near an entrance of the store. Thestore entry tag 31 transmits an electromagnetic wave including dataindicating entry of the purchaser into the store. Content of the data isnot particularly limited. In short, the processor 11 of the commodityregistration supporting device 10, which reads the data of the storeentry tag 31 via the wireless tag reader 17, only has to be able tospecify that the data is the data of the store entry tag 31. Anattachment place of the store entry tag 31 is desirably a place wherethe wireless tag reader 17 can read the data of the store entry tag 31according to an act of a purchaser, who wears the commodity registrationsupporting device 10, taking out a cart or a shopping basket placed nearthe store entrance. The attachment place of the store entry tag 31 maybe a place where the wireless tag reader 17 can read the data of thestore entry tag 31 if the purchaser brings the worn commodityregistration supporting device 10 close to the store entry tag 31 in theact of taking out the cart or the shopping basket.

The POS tag 32 is provided for each POS terminal 20. The POS tag 32transmits an electromagnetic wave including identification informationfor identifying the POS terminal 20. The identification information ofthis type is hereinafter referred to as POS ID. The POS ID is differentfor each POS terminal 20. A data structure of the POS ID is notparticularly limited. In short, the processor 11 of the commodityregistration supporting device 10, which reads data of the POS tag 32via the wireless tag reader 17, only has to be able to identify the POSterminal 20. An attachment place of the POS tag 32 is desirably a placewhere the wireless tag reader 17 can read the data of the POS tag 32 ifthe purchaser wearing the commodity registration supporting device 10arrives at the accounting place to perform settlement. The attachmentplace of the POS tag 32 may be a place where the wireless tag reader 17can read the data of the POS tag 32 if the purchaser brings the worncommodity registration supporting device 10 close to the POS tag 32 whenthe purchaser arrives at the accounting place.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the shelf label tag 33 is provided for each ofshelf labels 42 respectively provided in sections 41 of a commodityshelf 40 in which commodities are displayed. The commodity shelf 40 isdivided into a plurality of sections 41 by partition plates 43.Commodities of one article are displayed in each of the sections 41.That is, the section 41 is a display place of the commodity. The shelflabel 42 displays a commodity name, a price, and the like of thecommodity displayed in the section 41 in which the shelf label 42 isprovided. The shelf label 42 is desirably an electronic shelf label. Theshelf label 42 may be a shelf label of a paper label type. The partitionplate 43 may be absent if commodities displayed in sections adjacent toeach other are not mixed.

The shelf label tag 33 transmits an electromagnetic wave including datarelated to a commodity displayed in the section 41 corresponding to theshelf label tag 33. The data includes identification information, acommodity name, and a price of the commodity. The identificationinformation of the commodity is hereinafter referred to as commodity ID.The commodity ID is different for each article of the commodity. A datastructure of the commodity ID is not particularly limited. In short, theprocessor 11 of the commodity registration supporting device 10, whichreads the data of the shelf label tag 33 via the wireless tag reader 17,only has to be able to identify the commodity. An attachment place ofthe shelf label tag 33 is desirably a place where the wireless tagreader 17 can read the data of the shelf label tag 33 according to anact of the purchaser stretching a hand to the commodity shelf 40 inorder to take out a commodity from the section 41. The attachment placeof the shelf label tag 33 may be a place where the wireless tag reader17 can read the data of the shelf label tag 33 if the purchaser bringsthe worn commodity registration supporting device 10 close to the shelflabel tag 33 when taking out the commodity from the section 41.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the purchase tag 34 and the commodity returntag 35 are provided in a shopping basket 50. The shopping basket 50functions as a storage body for the purchaser to store and carrycommodities to be purchased. The purchase tag 34 transmits anelectromagnetic wave including data indicating that the commoditiesstored in the shopping basket 50 are purchased commodities. Content ofthe data is not particularly limited. In short, the processor 11 of thecommodity registration supporting device 10, which reads the data of thepurchase tag 34 via the wireless tag reader 17, only has to be able tospecify that the data is the data of the purchase tag 34. The commodityreturn tag 35 transmits a radio wave including data indicating that acommodity taken out from the shopping basket 50 is a returned commodity.Content of the data is not particularly limited. In short, the processor11 of the commodity registration supporting device 10, which reads thedata of the commodity return tag 35 via the wireless tag reader 17, onlyhas to be able to specify that the data is the data of the commodityreturn tag 35. In FIG. 3, the purchase tag 34 is provided on the outerside of one side surface 51 among four side surfaces 51, 52, 53, and 54forming the shopping basket 50. The commodity return tag 35 is providedon the outer side of the side surface 53 opposed to the side surface 51.Attachment places of the purchase tag 34 and the commodity return tag 35are not limited to the places illustrated in FIG. 3. The attachmentplace of the purchase tag 34 is desirably a place where the wireless tagreader 17 can read the data of the purchase tag 34 according to an actof the purchaser, who wears the commodity registration supporting device10, putting a commodity taken out from the commodity shelf 40 in theshopping basket 50. The attachment place of the purchase tag 34 may be aplace where the wireless tag reader 17 can read the data of the purchasetag 34 if the purchaser brings the worn commodity registrationsupporting device 10 close to the purchase tag 34 when putting thecommodity in the shopping basket 50. The attachment place of thecommodity return tag 35 is desirably a place where the wireless tagreader 17 can read the data of the commodity return tag 35 according toan act of the purchaser, who wears the commodity registration supportingdevice 10, taking out the commodity from the shopping basket 50. Theattachment place of the commodity return tag 35 may be a place where thewireless tag reader 17 can read the data of the commodity return tag 35if the purchaser brings the worn commodity registration supportingdevice 10 close to the commodity return tag 35 when taking out thecommodity from the shopping basket 50.

The shelf label tag 33 functions as a first transmitter. The purchasetag 34 functions as a second transmitter. The commodity return tag 35functions as a third transmitter. The wireless tag reader 17 functionsas a receiver.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example in which thepurchaser wears the commodity registration supporting device 10 of awristwatch type. The commodity registration supporting device 10 isformed by a thin rectangular housing 100 and belts 101 respectivelyattached to a pair of short sides of the housing 100. The purchaser canwear the commodity registration supporting device 10 by winding thebelts 101 near a wrist 60.

The processor 11, the main memory 12, the auxiliary storage device 13,the wireless unit 14, the display 15, the LED circuit 16, the wirelesstag reader 17, and the like are mounted on the housing 100. A screen 151of the display 15, the first LED 161, and the second LED 162 aredisposed on the surface of the housing 100. A positional relation amongthe screen 151 of the display 15, the first LED 161, and the second LED162 is not limited to a positional relation illustrated in FIG. 4. Inshort, the positional relation only has to be a positional relation withwhich the purchaser wearing the commodity registration supporting device10 can easily confirm display content.

In the commodity registration supporting device 10, as illustrated inFIG. 5, a buffer memory 71, a status memory 72, and a purchasedcommodity memory 73 are formed in a volatile region of the main memory12 in order to enable the commodity registration supporting device 10 toefficiently support commodity registration by the purchaser at low cost.The buffer memory 71 is a region for temporarily storing data read fromthe wireless tag 30 via the wireless tag reader 17. The status memory 72is a region for storing status data ST indicating a state of thepurchaser. The status data ST includes “0” indicating not entering thestore yet, “1” indicating shopping, “2” indicating purchase, and “3”indicating commodity return. The purchased commodity memory 73 can storea plurality of purchased commodity data such as commodity IDs, commoditynames, and prices. That is, the purchased commodity memory 73 is aregion for storing a list of the purchased commodity data.

The processor 11 uses the buffer memory 71, the status memory 72, andthe purchased commodity memory 73 when executing information processingaccording to a commodity registration supporting program. The commodityregistration supporting program is a type of an application programstored in the main memory 12 or the auxiliary storage device 13.

FIGS. 6 to 11 are flowcharts illustrating a main part procedure ofinformation processing executed by the processor 11 according to thecommodity registration supporting program. A main operation of thecommodity registration supporting device 10 is explained below withreference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 11. The operation explainedbelow is an example. A procedure and content of the operation are notparticularly limited if the same result can be obtained.

In Act 1, the processor 11 confirms whether the data of the wireless tag30 is read. If the data of the wireless tag 30 is not read, theprocessor 11 determines NO in Act 1 and returns to Act 1. That is, theprocessor 11 continues to wait for the data of the wireless tag 30 to beread.

If the data of the wireless tag 30 is read via the wireless tag reader17, the processor 11 determines YES in. Act 1 and proceeds to Act 2. InAct 2, the processor 11 analyzes the data of the wireless tag 30. In Act3, the processor 11 confirms whether the analyzed data is the data ofthe store entry tag 31. If the analyzed data is not the data of thestore entry tag 31, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 3 and proceedsto Act 4. In Act 4, the processor 11 confirms whether the analyzed datais the data of the shelf label tag 33. If the analyzed data is not thedata of the shelf label tag 33, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 4and proceeds to Act 5. In Act 5, the processor 11 confirms whether theanalyzed data is the data of the purchase tag 34. If the analyzed datais not the data of the purchase tag 34, the processor 11 determines NOin Act 5 and proceeds to Act 6. In Act 6, the processor 11 confirmswhether the analyzed data is the data of the commodity return tag 35. Ifthe analyzed data is not the data of the commodity return tag 35, theprocessor 11 determines NO in Act 6 and proceeds to Act 7. In Act 7, theprocessor 11 confirms whether the analyzed data is the data of the POStag 32. If the analyzed data is not the data of the POS tag 32, theprocessor 11 determines NO in Act 7 and returns to Act 1. That is, ifthe processor 11 reads the data of the wireless tag 30 other than thestore entry tag 31, the shelf label tag 33, the purchase tag 34, thecommodity return tag 35, and the POS tag 32, the processor 11 discardsthe analyzed data and continues to wait for the data of the wireless tag30 to be read again.

The purchaser coming to the store attaches the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 near the wrist as illustrated in FIG. 4. The storemay lend or may sell the commodity registration supporting device 10 tothe purchaser. The purchaser wearing the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 takes out the shopping basket 50 from a pile of theshopping baskets 50 stacked near the store entrance. In such an act ofthe purchaser, the commodity registration supporting device 10 reads thedata of the store entry tag 31 with the wireless tag reader 17.

If the data of the store entry tag 31 is read, the processor 11determines YES in Act 3 and proceeds to Act 11 in FIG. 7. In Act 11, theprocessor 11 confirms whether the status data ST described in the statusmemory 72 is “0” indicating not entering the store yet. If the statusdata ST is “0”, in Act 12, the processor 11 performs initialization. Theregions of the buffer memory 71 and the purchased commodity memory 73are cleared by the initialization.

In Act 13, the processor 11 controls display of a shopping start. Forexample, the processor 11 controls the LED circuit 16 to cause the firstLED 161 and the second LED 162 to alternately perform a flashingoperation a plurality of times. For example, the processor 11 controlsthe display 15 to display guidance for instructing the purchaser tostart shopping on the screen 151. In Act 14, the processor 11 changesthe status data ST to “1” indicating shopping. Thereafter, the processor11 returns to Act 1 and continues to wait for the wireless tag 30 to beread.

If the status data ST is not “0” indicating not entering the store yetin act 11, the processor 11 determines NO and skips the processing inActs 12 to 14. The processor 11 returns to Act 1 and continues to waitfor the wireless tag 30 to be read.

If the data of the store entry tag 31 is read by the wireless tag reader17 in this way, display for instructing the purchaser to start shoppingis performed in the commodity registration supporting device 10.Therefore, the purchaser confirming the display holds the shoppingbasket 50 and starts shopping. At this time, the purchaser may hold theshopping basket 50 with a hand and start shopping or may place theshopping basket 50 on the cart and start shopping.

The purchaser starting the shopping takes out commodities to bepurchased from the commodity shelf 40 one by one and puts thecommodities in the shopping basket 50. At this time, the purchaserextends the hand attached with the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 and takes out a commodity from the section 41, which is thedisplay place of the commodity. In such an act of the purchaser, thecommodity registration supporting device 10 reads the data of the shelflabel tag 33 from the shelf label 42 provided in the section 41 with thewireless tag reader 17.

If the data of the shelf label tag 33 is read, the processor 11determines YES in Act 4 and proceeds to Act 21 in FIG. 8. In Act 21, theprocessor 11 confirms whether the status data ST described in the statusmemory 72 is “1” indicating shopping. If the status data ST is “1”, inAct 22, the processor 11 stores the data of the shelf label tag 33 readby the wireless rag reader 17 in the buffer memory 71. The data of theshelf label tag 33 includes a commodity ID, a commodity name, and aprice of a commodity displayed on the shelf label 42 attached with theshelf label tag 33.

In Act 23, the processor 11 controls display of a purchase mode. Forexample, the processor 11 controls the LED circuit 16 to light the firstLED 161. In Act 24, the processor 11 changes the status data ST to “2”indicating purchase. Thereafter, the processor 11 returns to Act 1 andcontinues to wait for the wireless tag 30 to be read.

If the status data ST is not “1” indicating shopping in Act 21, theprocessor 11 determines NO and proceeds to Act 31. Processing in Act 31and subsequent acts is explained below. The purchaser, who takes out thecommodity from the section 41, confirms that the first LED 161 is lit.If the first LED 161 is not lit, the purchaser brings the commodityregistration supporting device 10 close to the shelf label 42 and causesthe wireless tag reader 17 to read the data of the shelf label tag 33.

The purchaser, who confirms that the first LED 161 is lit, puts the heldcommodity in the shopping basket 50. In that case, the purchaser putsthe commodity in the shopping basket 50 after bringing the commodityregistration supporting device 10 close to the purchase tag 34. In suchan act of the purchaser, the commodity registration supporting device 10reads the data of the purchase tag 34 from the shopping basket 50 withwireless tag reader 17.

If the data of the purchase tag 34 is read, the processor 11 determinesYES in Act 5 and proceeds to Act 41 in FIG. 9. In Act 41, the processor11 confirms whether the status data ST described in the status memory 72is “2” indicating purchase. If the status data ST is “2” indicatingpurchase, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 41 and proceeds to Act42. In Act 42, the processor 11 describes, in the purchased commoditymemory 73, the data of the shelf label tag 33 described in the buffermemory 71. That is, the processor 11 adds purchased commodity dataincluding a commodity ID, a commodity name, and a price to the purchasedcommodity memory 73. In Act 43, the processor 11 clears the buffermemory 71.

In Act 44, the processor 11 controls the display 15 to display, on thescreen 151, the commodity name and the price of the purchased commoditydata added to the purchased commodity memory 73. According to thiscontrol, the commodity name and the price of the commodity put in theshopping basket 50 are displayed on the screen 151. In Act 45, theprocessor 11 controls the display of the purchase mode to be erased. Thefirst LED 161 is extinguished according to this control.

In Act 46, the processor 11 changes the status data ST to “1” indicatingshopping. Thereafter, the processor 11 returns to Act 1 and continues towait for the wireless tag 30 to be read.

If the status data ST is not “2” indicating purchase in Act 41, theprocessor 11 determines NO and skips the processing in Acts 42 to 46.The processor 11 returns to Act 1 and continues to wait for the wirelesstag 30 to be read.

The processor 11 executes the processing in Acts 1, 2, 4, 21, and 22 inthis way to thereby acquire, from an electromagnetic wave received bythe wireless tag reader 17, the commodity ID of the commodity displayedin the section 41 of the commodity shelf 40 provided with the shelflabel tag 33 that transmits the electromagnetic wave. The computerincluding the processor 11 as the central part functions as an acquiringsection. The processor 11 executes the processing in Acts 24, 1, 2, 5,and 41 to thereby detect a first act of the purchaser taking out acommodity from the section 41 and storing the commodity in the shoppingbasket 50. Specifically, the processor 11 detects the first actaccording to the wireless tag reader 17 receiving the electromagneticwave transmitted from the purchase tag 34 after receiving theelectromagnetic wave transmitted from the shelf label tag 33. Thecomputer including the processor 11 as the central part functions as afirst detecting section.

The processor 11 executes the processing in Act 42 to thereby add, ifthe first act is detected by the first detecting section, purchasedcommodity data including a commodity ID, a commodity name, and a priceof the commodity identified by the commodity ID acquired by theacquiring section to the purchased commodity memory 73. The computerincluding the processor 11 as the central part functions as an addingsection.

The purchaser repeats the first act every time the purchaser finds acommodity to be purchased. Incidentally, the purchaser sometimes returnsa commodity once put in the shopping basket 50 to the commodity shelf 40halfway in shopping. In such a case, the purchaser takes out thecommodity to be returned from the shopping basket 50 with the handattached with the commodity registration supporting device 10. Thepurchaser brings the commodity registration supporting device 10 closeto the commodity return tag 35 of the shopping basket 50. In such an actof the purchaser, the commodity registration supporting device 10 readsthe data of the commodity return tag 35 with the wireless tag reader 17.

If the data of the commodity return tag 35 is read, the processor 11determines YES in Act 6 and proceeds to Act 51 in FIG. 10. In Act 51,the processor 11 confirms whether the status data ST described in thestatus memory 72 is “1” indicating shopping. If the status data ST is“1” indicating shopping, the processor 11 determines Yes in Act 51 andproceeds to Act 52. In Act 52, the processor 11 confirms whetherpurchased commodity data is stored in the purchased commodity memory 73.

If purchased commodity data is stored in the purchased commodity memory73, the processor 11 determines Yes in Act 52 and proceeds to Act 53. InAct 53, the processor 11 controls display of a commodity return mode.For example, the processor 11 controls the LED circuit 16 to light thesecond LED 162. In Act 54, the processor 11 changes the status data STto “3” indicating commodity return. Thereafter, the processor 11 returnsto Act 1 and continues to wait for the wireless tag 30 to be read.

If the status data ST is not “1” indicating shopping in Act 51, theprocessor 11 determines NO, skips the processing in Acts 52 to 54, andreturns to Act 1. If purchased commodity data is not stored in thepurchased commodity memory 73 in Act 52, the processor 11 skips theprocessing in Acts 53 and 54 and returns to Act 1.

The purchaser, who takes out the commodity to be returned from theshopping basket 50, confirms that the second LED 162 is lit. If thesecond LED 162 is not lit, the purchaser brings the commodityregistration supporting device 10 close to the commodity return tag 35and causes the wireless tag reader 17 to read the data of the commodityreturn tag 35.

The purchaser, who confirms that the second LED 162 is lit, stretches ahand to the commodity shelf 40 and returns the commodity to the section41 corresponding to the commodity. In such an act of the purchaser, thewireless tag reader 17 of the commodity registration supporting device10 reads the data of the shelf label tag 33 of the shelf label 42provided in the section 41.

If the data of the shelf label tag 33 is read, the processor 11determines YES in Act 4 and proceeds to Act 21 in FIG. 8. In Act 21, theprocessor 11 confirms whether the status data ST described in the statusmemory 72 is “1” indicating shopping. The status data ST at this time is“3” indicating commodity return. Therefore, the processor 11 determinesNO in Act 21 and proceeds to Act 31. In Act 31, the processor 11confirms whether the status data ST described in the status memory 72 is“3” indicating commodity return.

If the status data ST is “3”, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 31and proceeds to Act 32. In Act 32, the processor 11 stores the data ofthe shelf label tag 33 read by the wireless tag reader 17 in the buffermemory 71. The data of the shelf label tag 33 includes a commodity ID, acommodity name, and a price of a commodity, the commodity name and theprice of which are displayed on the shelf label 42 attached with theshelf label tag 33.

In Act 33, the processor 11 searches through the purchased commoditymemory 73 with the data stored in the buffer memory 71. In Act 34, theprocessor 11 confirms whether purchased commodity data including acommodity ID, a commodity name, and a price coinciding with the datastored in the buffer memory 71 is present in the purchased commoditymemory 73.

If purchased commodity data including a commodity ID, a commodity name,a the price coinciding with the data stored in the buffer memory 71 ispresent, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 34 and proceeds to Act35. In Act 35, the processor 11 deletes the purchased commodity dataincluding the commodity ID, the commodity name, and the price coincidingwith the data stored in the buffer memory 71 from the purchasedcommodity memory 73. In Act 36, the processor 11 controls the display 15to display the commodity name of the returned commodity on the screen151. According to this control, the commodity name of the commodityreturned from the shopping basket 50 to the commodity shelf 40 isdisplayed on the screen 151. In Act 37, the processor 11 controls thedisplay of the commodity return mode to be erased. The second LED 162 isextinguished according to this control.

In Act 38, the processor 11 changes the status data ST to “1” indicatingshopping. In Act 39, the processor 11 clears the buffer memory 71.Thereafter, the processor 11 returns to Act 1 and continues to wait forthe wireless tag 30 to be read.

If purchased commodity data including a commodity ID, a commodity name,a the price coinciding with the data stored in the buffer memory 71 isabsent in Act 34, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 34, skips theprocessing in Acts 35 to 38, and proceeds to Act 39. In Act 39, theprocessor 11 clears the buffer memory 71 and returns to Act 1. If thestatus data ST is not “3” indicating commodity return in Act 31, theprocessor 11 determines NO and returns to Act 1.

The processor 11 executes the processing in Acts 1, 2, 6, 51, 52, and 54and the processing in Acts 1, 2, 4, and 31 to thereby detect a secondact of the purchaser returning a commodity stored in the shopping basket50 to the original section 41. Specifically, the processor 11 detectsthe second act according to the wireless tag reader 17 receiving theelectromagnetic wave transmitted from the shelf label tag 33 afterreceiving the electromagnetic wave transmitted from the commodity returntag 35. The computer including the processor 11 as the central partfunctions as a second detecting section.

The processor 11 executes the processing in Acts 33 to 35 to therebydelete, if the second act is detected by the second detecting section, acommodity identified by a shelf label ID acquired by the acquiringsection from the purchased commodity memory 73. The computer includingthe processor 11 as the central part functions as a deleting section.

The purchaser ending the shopping moves to the accounting place toperform settlement. The purchaser brings the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 close to the POS tag 32 corresponding to the POSterminal 20 set in the accounting place. According to such an act of thepurchaser, the commodity registration supporting device 10 reads thedata of the POS tag 32 with the wireless tag reader 17.

If the data of the POS tag 32 is read, the processor 11 determines YESin Act 7 and proceeds to Act 61 in FIG. 11. In Act 61, the processor 11confirms whether the status data ST described in the status memory 72 is“1” indicating shopping. If the status data ST is “1”, in Act 62, theprocessor 11 confirms whether purchased commodity data is stored in thepurchased commodity memory 73.

If purchased commodity data is stored in the purchased commodity memory73, in Act 63, the processor 11 requests the wireless unit 14 to performconnection to the POS terminal 20. According to this connection request,the wireless unit 14 connects a wireless line to the POS terminal 20identified by the POS ID, which is the data of the POS tag 32.

In Act 64, the processor 11 confirms whether the wireless line to thePOS terminal 20 is connected. If the wireless line is connected, theprocessor 11 determines YES in Act 64 and proceeds to Act 65. In Act 65,the processor 11 controls the wireless unit 14 to transmit the purchasedcommodity data stored in the purchased commodity memory 73 to the POSterminal 20. According to this control, the wireless unit 14 wirelesslytransmits the purchased commodity data to the POS terminal 20.

In Act 66, the processor 11 confirms whether the purchased commoditydata is finished being normally transmitted. If the purchased commoditydata is finished being normally transmitted, the processor 11 determinesYES in Act 66 and proceeds to Act 67. In Act 67, the processor 11changes the status data ST to “0” indicating not entering the store yet.Thereafter, the processor 11 returns to Act 1 and continues to wait forthe wireless tag 30 to be read.

If the purchased commodity data is not finished being normallytransmitted, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 66, skips theprocessing in Act 67, and returns to Act 1. If the processor 11 fails inthe line connection to the POS terminal 20, the processor 11 determinesNO in Act 64, skips the processing in Acts 65 to 67, and returns to Act1. If purchased commodity data is not stored in the purchased commoditymemory 73, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 62, skips theprocessing in Acts 63 to 67, and returns to Act 1. If the status data STis not “1”, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 61, skips theprocessing in Acts 62 to 67, and returns to Act 1.

The processor 11 executes the processing in Acts 1, 2, 7, and 61 to 65in this way to thereby output the purchased commodity data stored in thepurchased commodity memory 73 to the POS terminal 20. The computerincluding the processor 11 as the central part functions as an outputsection.

In the POS terminal 20, purchased commodity data received from thecommodity registration supporting device 10 is stored in a transactionmemory. A list of commodity names, prices, and the like included in thepurchased commodity data is displayed on a cashier display. A cashiercollates the list and commodities stored in the shopping basket 50. Ifthe list and the commodities in the shopping basket 50 coincide, thecashier operates an accounting key. If the accounting key is operated,in the POS terminal 20, sales registration processing is executed basedon the purchased commodity data stored in the transaction memory.

In this way, the purchaser simply performs an inevitable act of takingout a commodity displayed in the commodity shelf 40 with the handattached with the article registration supporting device 10 near thewrist and storing the commodity in the shopping basket 50, wherebypurchased commodity data related to the commodity is stored in thepurchased commodity memory 73 of the commodity registration supportingdevice 10. The purchased commodity data stored in the purchasedcommodity memory 73 is used for the sales registration processingperformed in the POS terminal 20. Moreover, it is unnecessary to attachthe wireless tag 30 to each one of commodities displayed in thecommodity shelf 40. Even if a barcode is not attached to a commoditysuch as a perishable food, complicated operation for selecting thecommodity out of a commodity list is unnecessary. Therefore, it ispossible to provide the commodity registration supporting device 10 thatcan efficiently support commodity registration by the purchaser at lowcost.

If the purchaser takes out a commodity from the commodity shelf 40, thepurchaser brings the commodity registration supporting device 10 closeto the shelf label tag 33 of the shelf label 42 corresponding to thecommodity. Subsequently, if the purchaser stores the commodity in theshopping basket 50, the purchaser brings the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 close to the purchase tag 34 provided in theshopping basket 50. The purchaser simply performs such an act, wherebypurchased commodity data related to the commodity is stored in thepurchased commodity memory 73. Therefore, the wireless tags 30 such asthe shelf label tag 33 and the purchase tag 34 only have to be providedother than the commodity registration supporting device 10. Therefore,it is possible to easily introduce the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 to a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store.

The purchaser simply performs an act of taking out a commodity from theshopping basket 50 with the hand attached with the commodityregistration supporting device 10 near the wrist and returning thecommodity to the original section 41 of the commodity shelf 40, wherebypurchased commodity data related to the commodity is deleted from thepurchased commodity memory 73 of the commodity registration supportingdevice 10. Therefore, even if the purchaser cancels purchase of acommodity that the purchaser is once about to purchase, the purchaseronly has to perform an act of returning the commodity to the originalsection 41. This is not a burden for the purchaser.

Before returning a commodity from the shopping basket 50 to thecommodity shelf 40, the purchaser brings the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 close to the commodity return tag 35 provided inthe shopping basket 50. Subsequently, if the purchaser returns thecommodity to the commodity shelf 40, the purchaser brings the commodityregistration supporting device 10 close to the shelf label tag 33 of theshelf label 42. The purchaser simply performs such an act, wherebypurchased commodity data related to the commodity is deleted from thepurchased commodity memory 73. Therefore, simply by providing thecommodity return tag 35 in addition to the shelf label tag 33 and thepurchase tag 34, it is possible to enable the purchaser to cope withcommodity return before settlement by himself or herself.

The purchaser only has to attach the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 near the wrist and does not need to perform special operationfor the commodity registration supporting device 10. Therefore, a burdenon the purchaser is extremely small compared with when a commodityregistration supporting system is constructed using a cart terminal.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment is explained with reference to FIGS. 12 to 17.Portions common to the first embodiment are denoted by the samereference numerals and signs. Detailed explanation of such portions isomitted.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a main part circuitconfiguration of the commodity registration supporting device 10 in thesecond embodiment. As it is evident if FIG. 12 is compared with FIG. 1,a hardware configuration of the commodity registration supporting device10 is common to the first embodiment and the second embodiment. In thefirst embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless line ofwhich is connected to the wireless unit 14, is the POS terminal 20. Inthe second embodiment, the wireless communication apparatus is a cartterminal 80. In the first embodiment, there is the POS tag 32 as thewireless tag 30 read by the wireless tag reader 17. In the secondembodiment, a cart tag 36 is used instead of the POS tag 32.

The cart terminal 80 is a wireless communication apparatus attached to atruck called shopping cart. The cart terminal 80 has a function ofreceiving purchased commodity data wirelessly transmitted from thecommodity registration supporting device 10 and storing the purchasedcommodity data in a storing section and a function of transferring thepurchased commodity data stored in the storing section to the POSterminal 20. The data transfer to the POS terminal 20 may be performedusing a wire or may be performed using radio. The purchased commoditydata may be transferred to the POS terminal 20 directly or via a server.A well-known wireless communication apparatus such as a smartphone or atablet terminal is used as the cart terminal 80.

The cart tag 36 is provided in the cart terminal 80. The cart tag 36transmits an electromagnetic wave including identification informationfor identifying the cart terminal 80. The information of this type ishereinafter referred to as cart ID. The cart ID is different for eachcart terminal 80. A data structure of the cart ID is not particularlylimited. In short, the processor 11 of the commodity registrationsupporting device 10, which reads data of the cart tag 36 via thewireless tag reader 17, only has to be able to identify the cartterminal 80. An attachment place of the cart tag 36 is desirably a placewhere the wireless tag reader 17 can read the data of the cart tag 36 ifa purchaser wearing the commodity registration supporting device 10brings the commodity registration supporting device 10 close to the cartterminal 80.

FIG. 13 is an example of the cart tag 36 provided in the cart terminal80. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the cart tag 36 is attached to a part ofthe same surface as a screen of a display device 81 included in the cartterminal 80.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating the structure of data storedin the purchased commodity memory 73 in the second embodiment. Asillustrated in FIG. 14, in the second embodiment, a transmissioncompletion flag F is added to purchased commodity data including acommodity ID, a commodity name, and a price. The transmission completionflag F is one-bit data for identifying whether the purchased commoditydata corresponding to the transmission completion flag F is alreadytransmitted to the cart terminal 80. In this embodiment, thetransmission completion flag F indicating non-transmission isrepresented as “0” and the transmission completion flag F indicatingtransmission completion is represented as “1”. “0” and “1” of thetransmission completion flag F may be opposite.

FIGS. 15 to 17 are flowcharts illustrating a main part procedure ofinformation processing executed by the processor 11 according to acommodity registration supporting program in the second embodiment.Incidentally, FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 6 in the first embodiment,FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG. 9 in the first embodiment, and FIG. 17corresponds to FIG. 11 in the first embodiment. A main operation of thecommodity registration supporting device 10 in the second embodiment ishereinafter explained below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 15to 17. The operation explained below is an example. A procedure andcontent of the operation are not particularly limited if the same resultcan be obtained.

In Act 1, the processor 11 continues to wait for data of the wirelesstag 30 to be read. If the data of the wireless tag 30 is read via thewireless tag reader 17, in Act 2, the processor 11 analyzes the data ofthe wireless tag 30. If the analyzed data is data of the store entry tag31 in Act 3, the processor 11 executes the processing of the procedureillustrated in FIG. 7 as in the first embodiment. If the analyzed datais data of the shelf label tag 33 in Act 4, the processor 11 executesthe processing of the procedure illustrated in FIG. 8 as in the firstembodiment. If the analyzed data is data of the commodity return tag 35in Act 6, the processor 11 executes the processing of the procedureillustrated in FIG. 10 as in the first embodiment.

On the other hand, if the analyzed data is data of the purchase flag 34in Act 5, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 5 and proceeds to Act41 in FIG. 16. In Act 41, the processor 11 confirms whether the statusdata ST described in the status memory 72 is “2” indicating purchase. Ifthe status data ST is “2” indicating purchase, in Act 42, the processor11 describes, in the purchased commodity memory 73, data of the shelflabel tag 33 described in the buffer memory 71, that is, purchasedcommodity data including a commodity ID, a commodity name, and a price.Further, in Act 71, the processor 11 adds the transmission completionflag F indicating non-transmission “0” to the purchased commodity data.Thereafter, in Acts 43 to 46, the processor 11 executes the sameprocessing as the processing in the first embodiment.

If the analyzed data is not the data of the commodity return tag 35 inAct 6, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 6 and proceeds to Act 8. InAct 8, the processor 11 confirms whether the analyzed data is data ofthe cart tag 36. If the analyzed data is not the data of the cart tag36, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 8 and returns to Act 1.

If the analyzed data is the data of the cart tag 36, the processor 11determines YES in Act 8 and proceeds to Act 61 in FIG. 17. In Act 61,the processor 11 confirms whether the status data ST described in thestatus memory 72 is “1” indicating shopping. If the status data ST is“1”, in Act 62, the processor 11 confirms whether purchased commoditydata is stored in the purchased commodity memory 73.

If purchased commodity data is stored in the purchased commodity memory73, in Act 81, the processor 11 requests the wireless unit 14 to performconnection to the cart terminal 80. According to this connectionrequest, the wireless unit 14 connects a wireless line to the cartterminal 80 identified by a cart ID, which is the data of the cart tag36.

In Act 82, the processor 11 confirms whether the wireless line to thecart terminal 80 is connected. If the wireless line is connected, theprocessor 11 determines YES in Act 82 and proceeds to Act 83. In Act 83,the processor 11 acquires purchased commodity data, the transmissioncompletion flag F of which is set to non-transmission “0”, out of thepurchased commodity data stored in the purchased commodity memory 73.

In Act 84, the processor 11 confirms presence or absence of purchasedcommodity data, the transmission completion flag F of which is set tonon-transmission “0”. If the pertinent purchased commodity data ispresent, the processor 11 determines YES in Act 84 and proceeds to Act85. In Act 85, the processor 11 controls the wireless unit 14 totransmit the pertinent purchased commodity data to the cart terminal 80.According to this control, the wireless unit 14 wirelessly transmits thepurchased commodity data, the transmission completion flag F of which isset to the non-transmission “0”, to the cart terminal 80.

In Act 86, the processor 11 confirms whether the purchased commoditydata is finished being normally transmitted. If the purchased commoditydata is finished being normally transmitted, the processor 11 determinesYES in Act 86 and proceeds to Act 87. In Act 87, the processor 11changes all the transmission completion flags F added to the purchasedcommodity data stored in the purchased commodity memory 73 totransmission completion “1”. In Act 67, the processor 11 changes thestatus data ST to “0” indicating not entering the store yet. Thereafter,the processor 11 returns to Act 1 and continues to wait for the wirelesstag 30 to be read.

If the purchased commodity data is not finished being normallytransmitted, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 86, skips theprocessing in Acts 87 and 67, and returns to Act 1. If purchasedcommodity data, the transmission completion flag F of which is set tonon-transmission “0”, is absent, the processor 11 determines NO in Act84, skips the processing in Acts 85 to 87 and 67, and returns to Act 1.If the processor 11 fails in the line connection to the cart terminal80, the processor 11 determines NO in Act 82, skips the processing inActs 83 to 87 and 67, and returns to Act 1. If purchased commodity datais not stored in the purchased commodity memory 73, the processor 11determines NO in Act 62, skips the processing in Acts 81 to 87 and 67,and returns to Act 1. If the status data ST is not “1”, the processor 11determines NO in Act 61, skips the processing in Acts 62, 81 to 87, and67, and returns to Act 1.

In the second embodiment as well, the purchaser coming to the storeattaches the commodity registration supporting device 10 near the wristas illustrated in FIG. 4. The purchaser wearing the commodityregistration supporting device 10 takes out the shopping basket 50 froma pile of the shopping baskets 50 stacked near the store entrance. Insuch an act of the purchaser, the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 reads the data of the store entry tag 31 with the wireless tagreader 17.

If the data of the store entry tag 31 is read by the wireless tag reader17, display for instructing the purchaser to start shopping is performedin the commodity registration supporting device 10. Therefore, thepurchaser confirming the display holds the shopping basket 50 and startsshopping. At this time, the purchaser places the shopping basket 50 onthe cart attached with the cart terminal 80 and starts shopping.

As in the first embodiment, the purchaser starting the shopping takesout commodities to be purchased from the shopping shelf 40 one by oneand puts the commodities in the shopping basket 50. As in the firstembodiment, the purchaser takes out a commodity to be returned beforesettlement from the shopping basket 50 and returns the commodity to theoriginal shopping shelf 40. According to such an act of the purchaser,purchased commodity data of the commodities contained in the shoppingbasket 50 is stored in the purchased commodity memory 73.

For example, if the purchaser desires to confirm a total amount halfwayin the shopping, the purchaser brings the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 close to the cart tag 36 attached to the cartterminal 80. Then, the data of the cart tag 36 is read by the wirelesstag reader 17. The purchased commodity data in the purchased commoditymemory 73 is wirelessly transmitted to the cart terminal 80 identifiedby the data of the cart tag 36. As a result, for example, as illustratedin FIG. 13, a list image of commodity names, the numbers of articles,and prices of purchased commodities up to the present point in time, atotal number of articles, and a total amount are displayed on thedisplay device 81 of the cart terminal 80. Therefore, the purchaser caneasily confirm the total amount at the present point in time simply bybringing the commodity registration supporting device 10 close to thecart tag 36 halfway in the shopping.

The purchaser finishing the shopping brings the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 close to the cart tag 36 attached to the cartterminal 80 as explained above. Then, purchased commodity data nottransmitted to the cart terminal 80 yet is wirelessly transmitted to thecart terminal 80. Therefore, purchased commodity data finally stored inthe purchased commodity memory 73 is saved in the cart terminal 80.

The purchased commodity data saved in the cart terminal 80 istransferred to the POS terminal 20. In the POS terminal 20, as in thefirst embodiment, sales registration processing of commodities isexecuted based on the purchased commodity data.

In the second embodiment having such a configuration, as in the firstembodiment, it is possible to provide the commodity registrationsupporting device 10 that can efficiently support commodity registrationby the purchaser at low cost.

Modifications

Modifications of the embodiments are explained below.

In the embodiments, as an example, the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 is the wristwatch type and is attached near the wrist of thepurchaser. The commodity registration supporting device 10 only has tobe attached to an upper limb from a shoulder to a fingertip and able todetect the first act and the second act by the purchaser. For example,it is also possible to form the commodity registration supporting device10 in a fingering shape and attach the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 to a finger of the purchaser.

In the embodiments, the purchase tag 34 and the commodity return tag 35are provided in the shopping basket 50. The first act and the second actby the purchaser are detected by reading the data of the purchase tag 34or the commodity return tag 35 with the wireless tag reader 17 of thecommodity registration supporting device 10. Means for detecting thefirst act and the second act is not limited to this. For example, thecommodity registration supporting device 10 of a wristband typeincorporating a motion sensor such as an acceleration sensor, a gyrosensor, or a muscle potential sensor may be developed. The first act andthe second act by the purchaser may be detected from information of themotion sensor.

In the embodiments, as an example, there is one purchaser. For example,in the case of a family, all family members wear the commodityregistration supporting devices 10. In accounting, purchased commoditydata stored in the purchased commodity memories 73 of the commodityregistration supporting device 10 of all the family members aresequentially transmitted to the POS terminal 20. The POS terminal 20executes sales registration processing based on the purchased commoditydata received from the commodity registration supporting devices 10.Consequently, for example, it is possible to cope with even a family. Aserver may be provided between the commodity registration supportingdevice 10 and the POS terminal 20. The server may collect purchasedcommodity data and then transmit the purchased commodity data to the POSterminal 20.

In the embodiments, the transmitter is configured by the wireless tag30. The transmitter is not limited to the wireless tag. The transmitteronly has to be a transmitter that can transmit identificationinformation of displayed commodities through short range wirelesscommunication.

In the second embodiment, as an example, the transmission completionflag F is added to the purchased commodity data, and purchased commoditydata, the transmission completion flag F of which is non-transmission,is transmitted to the cart terminal 80. Concerning this point, the cartterminal 80 may overwrite and save purchased commodity data transmittedfrom the commodity registration supporting device 10. Therefore, in Act85, all purchased commodity data of the purchased commodity memory 73may be transmitted to the cart terminal 80. In this case, thetransmission completion flag F is unnecessary.

The several embodiments are explained above. However, the embodimentsare presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other variousforms. Various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments andmodifications of the embodiments are included in the scope and the gistof the invention and included in the inventions described in claims andthe scope of equivalents of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A commodity registration supporting devicecomprising: a receiver configured to receive a first electromagneticwave transmitted from a first transmitter provided in a displayconfigured to display a commodity; and a processor comprising: anacquiring section configured to acquire, from the first electromagneticwave received by the receiver, identification information of thecommodity; a first detecting section configured to detect a first act ofa purchaser taking out the commodity from the display and storing thecommodity in a storage body; an adding section configured to add thecommodity identified by the identification information acquired by theacquiring section to a list in response to the first detecting sectiondetecting the first act; and an output section configured to output thelist.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein: the receiver is configured toreceive a second electromagnetic wave transmitted from a secondtransmitter provided in the storage body; and the first detectingsection is configured to detect the first act in response to receivingthe second electromagnetic wave after receiving the firstelectromagnetic wave.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the processorfurther comprises: a second detecting section configured to detect asecond act of the purchaser returning the commodity stored in thestorage body to the display; and a deleting section configured to deletethe commodity identified by the identification information acquired bythe acquiring section from the list in response to the second detectingsection detecting the second act.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein: thereceiver is configured to receive a radio wave transmitted from a thirdtransmitter provided in the storage body; and the second detectingsection is configured to detect the second act in response to thereceiver receiving the first electromagnetic wave after receiving theradio wave.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configuredto be attached to an upper limb of a purchaser.
 6. The device of claim1, further comprising a device display configured to displayinstructions for purchasing the commodity in response to receiving thefirst electromagnetic wave.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the devicedisplay is configured to display a price of the commodity and a name ofthe commodity in response to receiving the first electromagnetic wave.8. A commodity registration supporting method comprising: receiving afirst electromagnetic wave transmitted from a first transmitter;displaying, by a display and in response to receiving the firstelectromagnetic wave, at least one of a name of a commodity or a priceof the commodity; acquiring, from the first electromagnetic wave,identification information of the commodity; detecting a first act of apurchaser taking out the commodity from the display and storing thecommodity in a storage body; adding the commodity identified by theidentification information to a list in response to detecting the firstact; and outputting the list.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: receiving a second electromagnetic wave transmitted from asecond transmitter provided in the storage body; and detecting the firstact in response to receiving the second electromagnetic wave afterreceiving the first electromagnetic wave.
 10. The method of claim 9,further comprising: detecting a second act of the purchaser returningthe commodity stored in the storage body; and deleting the commodityidentified by the identification information from the list in responseto detecting the second act.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising: receiving a radio wave transmitted from a third transmitterprovided in the storage body; and detecting the second act in responseto receiving the first electromagnetic wave after receiving the radiowave.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising displayinginstructions for purchasing the commodity in response to receiving thefirst electromagnetic wave.
 13. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising displaying a price of the commodity and a name of thecommodity in response to receiving the first electromagnetic wave.
 14. Asystem for a display configured to store a commodity, the systemcomprising: a first tag associated with the commodity, the first tagconfigured to transmit a first electromagnetic wave; a storage bodyconfigured to store the commodity; and a device comprising: a receiverconfigured to receive the first electromagnetic wave; and a processorcomprising: an acquiring section configured to acquire, from the firstelectromagnetic wave received by the receiver, identificationinformation of the commodity; a first detecting section configured todetect at least one of removal of the commodity from the display orinsertion of the commodity in the storage body; an adding sectionconfigured to add the commodity to a list in response to the firstdetecting section detecting the removal of the commodity from thedisplay or insertion of the commodity in the storage body; and an outputsection configured to output the list.
 15. The device of claim 14,wherein: the storage body comprises a second tag configured to transmita second electromagnetic wave; the receiver is configured to receive thesecond electromagnetic wave; and the first detecting section isconfigured to receive the second electromagnetic wave before detectingat least one of removal of the commodity from the display or insertionof the commodity in the storage body.
 16. The device of claim 14,wherein the processor further comprises: a second detecting sectionconfigured to detect at least one of insertion of the commodity in thedisplay or removal of the commodity in the storage body; and a deletingsection configured to delete the commodity from the list in response tothe second detecting section detecting at least one of insertion of thecommodity in the display or removal of the commodity in the storagebody.